I have chosen to start a topic here as the last post in the PP forum was in 2010 and is the longest running post-less forum!

As no topics have been raised recently, I think it might be interesting to have a general conversation about PP training.

Some points to start with:- Is PP training still relevant in modern MA?- Is the PP concept (as commonly described) pseudo-science?- How common place is PP practice?

From the sticky I was advised to look at Kyusho International. I found this youtube video.http://youtu.be/NZp2b8J6W4QCan anyone comment on if it actually represents Kyusho International and give opinions.

The PP forum has been dormant for some time. I’d be interested to hear anyone’s thoughts and opinions on the subject.

When you are on the ground and uke is standing in front of you, hold his foot down flat on the mat with one hand. With the other hand grab his leg from the front just above the ankle. Press inward in the dent on either side of the base of the shin bone. Do it right and he will fall over forward.

A: Kyusho translates as “Vital Point”, these are the anatomical structures in the body that allows the practitioner to tap into the brain, nervous system and physiology of the body.

Kyushojitsu.com:

Quote:

Kyusho Jitsu, also called dim mak in Chinese systems, is the science of vital points in Martial Arts and Healing practices. We have removed the mystery, confusion, and non-essential information in order to make this an easy system to apply to your Martial Art or Healing practice.

Kyusho-jitsu.co.uk

Quote:

Pressure points for self defence is using the nerves to our advantage, in simple terms it's the body'e way of monitoring the body's condition, Pain, hot, cold or if an organ is in good condition.

I was quite surprised by 2 things.

-Firstly lots of these places seem to be selling kyusho as an ‘add on’ to your current system.

-Secondly, the lack of the words ki, chi, meridian or similar.

I would be interested to know what if anyone on the forum could give their definition, or comment on the above.

I feel that the mysticism is still just below the surface on these sites (I tried to only use respectable sites). The terminology of ‘tap in to the brain’, ‘dim mak and healing’ ‘monitoring if an organ is in good condition’ certainly hint at this IMO.

When you are on the ground and uke is standing in front of you, hold his foot down flat on the mat with one hand. With the other hand grab his leg from the front just above the ankle. Press inward in the dent on either side of the base of the shin bone. Do it right and he will fall over forward.

Was there any theory taught alongside this, I mean in terms of mechanics?

To me, the example you made does not sound overly practical (it might not have been intended that way). I would be interested to know what you thought about the Youtube clip?

The Author seems to call PP strikes ‘spotting’ which differ from ‘neurological’ strikes (please correct me if I’m wrong here. I found the article difficult to follow). Though I don’t really know what a ‘neurological’ strike is.

From the article:

Quote:

In the practice of spotting, the injuries are going to be different than a simple strike or trauma to the body. The targeting of points is not focused on the immediate tissue but rather on the flow of energy/Qi through the various organ systems associated with that point

As seemingly there is no evidence for the above statement as a whole. Surely PP training is not relevant for MA in 2013.

And a selective quote:

Quote:

Pain is by definition in Chinese herbal medicine a blockage or stagnation of the flow of Blood* or energy (Qi/Ki)

Pain is, by definition, in Medicine:

Quote:

Pain is an unpleasant feeling that is conveyed to the brain by sensory neurons…..

This is also the point where the conversation, intentionally or not, get clouded. Are we talking about Chinese herbal medicines - its definitions, effects and processes in a real life sense? Or are we talking metaphorically and not actually describing the real world?

As I understand the article is intending to describe the real world. Would anyone disagree?

The remainder of the article talks about medicinal herbs to repair supposed trauma caused by the specific effects of PP strikes. E.g. ‘moves Blood and Qi to relieve pain’ and ‘moves Blood and moistens and moves the large intestine’.

Does being a lead article on FA.com lend credibility to the article?

As it is on this website I’d like to see some people here who might know something of PP training critique the article and lend their thoughts.

Were I to read it elsewhere I would probably disregard it as dogmatic and nonsense. There were lots of other problems I had with the article, which others may wish to address but for the sake of staying on topic I stuck the MA themed PP strikes.